The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-07-07
LITTLE SHORTY.

1t was weeks and weeks after the
surrender at AppomattoX before Cot
tonyille understood the full meaning
OF it.
At the beginning of the war it had
been our boast that CottOnville was
slow but sure. Once tangled up in
the struggle we did not see our way
out Of it, and when the paroled veter-
ans in gray began to struggle home
ward over the old red hills we could
hardly believe that their return signi-
fled the end of the war
When a small detachment of federal
troops occupied the village there was
general indignation among our people.
Some of the bolder spirits were in
favor of Wiping out the invaders at
| one fell swoop, but the more moderate
counsels Of the returned confederates
prevailed and prevented the renewal
Of hostilities.
One thing, however, we were all
determined upon, and that was to
show the miserable interLopers that
Cottonyille was still loyal to the con-
federacy and would submit to nothing
disagreeable.
We did not find it necessary to do
anything rash. We held a few public
meetings and passed resolutions pro-
claiming our devotion to the lost cause,
but that was about all.
Among the paroled confederates was
a quiet, pale-faccd man, who was
known far and wide as Little Shorty.
One had only to look at him TO see the
appropriateness of his nickname. Lit
tie Shorty, to the great disgust of his
| fellow-tOwnsmen, refused to partici-
pate in the public demonstrations. He
even went so far as to say that the true
policy was to make the best of the
situation and obey whatever laws the
victors saw fit to promulgate while we
were going through the process of re-
construction.
Now, although Little Shorty was in
significant in stature, he was perhaps
the strongest man in the county. He
was a match for any two ordinary
men. This was all that saved him at
that time from being made the victim
Of an outburst of popular indignation.
There was rough talk, of course, and
the prominent citizens as a rule ostra-
cised him.
Little Shorty did his duty in the
! W III ltiilttl htNl Il illiIl Ollt httN W IlCu
| the matter was under discussion.
''Yes, after a fashion," replied Col.
| Jones; '.but you never heard of any
| of his deeds of daring. He simply
| walked through the whole business and
| oct back home without a scratch
Perhaps that was not his fault y
said the other. "He volunteered, you
know amODp the first -
That's AL right" answered the
colonel, contemptuously. "If he
hadn't volunteered he would have
been conscripted later. He was sharp
| enough to have an inkIing of it, and
so he went to the front like little
man. That was no test of his courage.
! his people? Is he true to the lost
cause? You see what he is doing. He
/ fayors submission. He claims that we
are a subjugated people. l don't know
what you think, gentlemen, but | say
| that his conduct is that of a bastard
| and a traitor"
| The words of Col. Jones were re-
peated all over the village, and natur-
| ally they tended to intlame public SEN
! timcnt still more. 1t was true that
the colonel had not been in the army,
| but his patriotic conduct in organiz-
| ING torch-light procession when the
state seeded had never been forgot
ten, and his fearless opposition to
| everything that came from Il federal
| source made him a popular idol.
! The situation did not improve as
| time rolled on. Additional blue coats
were stationed at Cottonville. They
! swarmed in the streets Their officers
! began to monopOlize the sidewalks,
and il soon became evident that the
| enemy was strong enough to hold its
own. and that the friendship or the
rumity of the villagers was held in
! light esteem.
PrcSUming upon their strength the
! federals grew more offensive in their
| behavior. They required the citizens
To obtain the commanding officers
/ permission TO hold meetings. They
| arrested good men on the trumped-up
charges of idle and vicious negroes,
and In various other WAYS the con-
| viction was brought home to lis that
| the iron heel OF despOtiSm was a solid
reality and not mere figure of
speech.
Strange to say, while matters were
| progressing from bad to worse in this
| direction, the citizens of CottonviIle
We're gradually simmering down into
a submissive mood. Some joined the
Union league, and the ma ;ority ex-
pressed opinions similar to those
uttered by Little Shorty not very long
| before.
One morning the loungers about the
courthouse saw Little Shorty riding
! up the street. He wore his confeder-
ate jacket, buttons and all
Col. Jones winked at the by-stand-
ers.
Little Shorty will catch it." he
said. land serve him right. too. A
man with his sentiments ought to have
| ripped off his buttons at the sur
render"
Everybody laughed, and after Little
sSt,@rty hed hitched his horse and ,..e.l..